Ilminster

The Methodist Church, West Street, Ilminster, Somerset. Somerset is famous for its Ham Hill stone and this ( 1887 by Alexander Lauder ) is a late example of its use. It was listed for its dominant role in the townscape but also the intactness of its interior. It is now disused and when faced by an application in 2015 to carve up the interior into residential units, we had to bemoan the fact that a use exploiting its nature as a purpose-built auditorium was not being pursued.

We always advocate such a loose-fit, reversible new use for disused places of worship, wherever that might prove practical. Intensive conversion is of course preferable to demolition but it cannot be the ideal.